A Thane court on Thursday granted bail to controversial Hindu religious leader Kalicharan Maharaj, who was arrested in connection with a case registered against him here for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Mahatma Gandhi. Judicial Magistrate First Class SV Metil Patil ordered his release on furnishing cash security of Rs 15,000.

The Hindu seer was arrested by the Thane police last week in Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur, where he was lodged in a jail in a similar case filed against him there. Kalicharan Maharaj was later sent to judicial custody by the court here after which he applied for bail.